Romero Rocks, Stroman Solid, Boyd Beautiful: August 17 Minor League Report

Many of the Blue Jays top prospects had excellent games on Saturday, including Marcus Stroman, Andy Burns, Matt Boyd and Franklin Barreto.

Buffalo Bisons (66-61)

The Buffalo Bisons went into Pawtucket needing a win to close the gap in the wildcard standings and took the victory 7-2 over the Red Sox. Ricky Romero got the start and had one of his best of the year, pitching seven innings and giving up just one run on six hits and one walk while striking out six Paw Sox. Moises Sierra had a big game with a single and home run contributing to his three RBI while Brad Glenn was on four times with a single, a double and two walks and Jim Negrych had two singles and a double (driving in two runs), inching his batting average closer to the .300 mark again.

Roster Note: LHP Sean Nolin and C A.J. Jimenez were added to the Buffalo Bisons.

Buffalo Bisons’ infielder Jim Negrych dives back into first base on a pickoff attempt in Buffalo, NY on August 16, 2013. Mandatory Credit: Jay Blue

Hitting:

Mike McCoy – 0/5, R, K, SB, E
Ryan Goins – 0/5, K
Moises Sierra – 2/5, R, HR, 3 RBI
Clint Robinson – 1/4, BB
Andy LaRoche – 2/3, 2 R, 2B, 2 BB
Ricardo Nanita – 2/5, R
Brad Glenn – 2/3, R, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 BB
Jim Negrych – 3/5, R, 2B, 2 RBI, K, SB, E
Mike Nickeas – 0/5, K

Pitching:

Ricky Romero – 7 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 6 K
John Stilson – 2 IP, 1 H, 1 R (0 ER), 2 K

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Jim Negrych

New Hampshire Fisher Cats (61-63)

The New Hampshire Fisher Cat bats opened up on the Trenton Thunder, thumping Trenton 14-4. The top of order did the most damage with eight hits between Kenny Wilson, Andy Burns and Kevin Nolan. Wilson went three for four with a double and three runs scored while Burn went three for five, scoring three, hitting a double and driving in two. Nolan went two for six with two doubles and two RBI. All of the other starters had one hit with Adam Loewen hitting a double, driving in three and scoring two and John Tolisano going one for three with a triple, two walks, two runs scored and three RBI. Marcus Stroman got the start and went five and two-thirds innings giving up four runs (although two were unearned) on six hits. He didn’t walk anyone (but he did hit a batter) and struck out six.

Roster Notes: RHP Austin-Bibens-Dirkx returns to the Fisher Cats as Sean Nolin and A.J. Jimenez move up to Buffalo.

Hitting:

Kenny Wilson – 3/4, 3 R, 2B, RBI, BB, K
Andy Burns – 3/5, 3 R, 2B, 2 RBI, BB, K, E
Kevin Nolan – 2/6, R, 2 2B, 2 RBI
Adam Loewen – 1/5, 2 R, 2B, 3 RBI, BB, K, SB
Kevin Ahrens – 1/5, RBI, K
Ryan Schimpf – 1/3, R, 2 BB, K
Jack Murphy – 1/4, R, BB
Lance Zawadzki – 1/4, R, BB, 2 K
John Tolisano – 1/3, 2 R, 2B, 3 RBI, 2 BB, 2 K

Pitching:

Marcus Stroman – W, 5 2/3 IP, 6 H, 4 R (2 ER), 6 K
Tyson Brummett – 1 1/3 IP, 1 H, 1 K
Evan Crawford – 1 IP, 1 H, 2 K
Randy Boone – 1 IP, 2 H, 1 K

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Andy Burns

Dunedin Blue Jays (59-60)

The Dunedin Blue Jays couldn’t get any offense going against the Clearwater Threshers in a 2-0 loss. Starter John Anderson was solid giving up 2 runs (only one was earned) in his four innings but Matt Boyd was outstanding in his Dunedin Debut. Boyd didn’t give up a hit in four innings and just walked one batter and struck out five to finish the game. The Blue Jays had seven hits including a single and a double from Derrick Chung, but couldn’t score any runs.

Roster Notes: Matt Boyd was assigned to the Dunedin Blue Jays while Austin Bibens-Dirkx was promoted to New Hampshire.

Hitting:

Jon Berti – 1/4, 2B, K
Shane Opitz – 0/4
Mike Crouse – 1/4, 2 K
Marcus Knecht – 1/4
Oliver Dominguez – 1/4, 2 K
Gustavo Pierre – 0/4, 2 K
Derrick Chung – 2/4, 2B
Pierce Rankin – 1/3, OF Asst.
Jorge Flores – 0/3

Pitching:

John Anderson – L, 4 IP, 4 H, 2 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 2 K
Matt Boyd – 4 IP, 1 BB, 5 K

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Matt Boyd*

*Note: You can hear an interview with Matt Boyd on the latest Blue Jays from Away Podcast (see link below).

Lansing Lugnuts (53-70)

The Lansing Lugnuts lost to the Lake County Captains 5-3 on Saturday night. 2013 eighth round draft pick Kendall Graveman started for the Lugnuts and was lit up for four runs on seven hits and three walks although he did strike out five batters. Kramer Champlin gave up a run on three hits and two walks over two and two-thirds innings and Javier Avendano walked two and gave up a hit in his two scoreless innings in which he struck out three batters. Offensively, the team only had five hits including Emilio Guerrero who continues his hot streak with a single and a double following up his six-for-six game on Friday.

Roster Notes: Matt Boyd was promoted to Dunedin.

Hitting:

Dalton Pompey – 1/3, BB, 2 K, CS
Emilio Guerrero – 2/5, R, 2B, K
Dwight Smith, Jr. – 0/3, R, BB
Christian Lopes – 1/3, R, RBI, BB
Kevin Patterson – 0/3, BB
Santiago Nessy – 0/3
Jordan Leyland – 0/4, K
Carlos Ramirez – 0/4
Jason Leblebijian – 1/4, 2B, E

Pitching:

Kendall Graveman – L, 4 1/3 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 3 BB, 5 K, 1 HR
Kramer Champlin – 2 2/3 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 3 K, 1 HR
Javier Avendano – 2 IP, 1 H, 2 BB, 3 K

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Emilio Guerrero

Vancouver Canadians (31-29)

August 17 Game:

Starter Jeremy Gabryszwski righted himself, leading the Vancouver Canadians to a 6-1 win over the Salem Keizer Volcanoes. Gaby went six innings, giving up just two hits with four strikeouts while Alonzo Gonzalez finished the game with two perfect innings. Garrett Pickens gave up the run on a Tyler Horan solo home run in the seventh inning. Dawel Lugo picked up his first two hits with the Canadians while L.B. Dantzler (who also walked), Andy Fermin, Brenden Kalfus and Ian Parmley (who walked twice) all had two-hit games. Canadian infielder Shaun Valeriote (from Guelph, Ontario) went oh for one but walked three times.

Hitting:

Chaz Frank – 1/5, 2 RBI, K
Dawel Lugo – 2/5, R, RBI
L.B. Dantzler – 2/4, R, BB, 2 K
Andy Fermin – 2/5, R, K
Brenden Kalfus – 2/5, RBI, K
Mike Reeves – 0/3, R, RBI, BB, 2 K, SF
Dan Arcila – 0/3, R, BB, K
Shaun Valeriote – 0/1, R, 3 BB, K
Ian Parmley – 2/2, 2 BB

Pitching:

Jeremy Gabryszwski – W, 6 IP, 2 H, 4 K
Garrett Pickens – 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 HR
Alonzo Gonzalez – 2 IP, 2 K

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Jeremy Gabryszwski

Late night Vancouver Canadians recaps will appear two days following the game.

Bluefield Blue Jays (36-17)

After a ninth inning comeback by the Princeton Rays, the Bluefield Blue Jays got some dramatics of their own to walk off with a 6-5 victory. Starter Chase DeJong was strong for the Blue Jays, pitching four innings and giving up just one run on two hits and a walk while striking out six. Mark Biggs and Tim Mayza combined for three and two-thirds shutout innings until Brett Barber, normally lights-out, got into trouble in the ninth. He ended up blowing the save and giving up four runs but the bats were able to get him off the hook (and even land him with a win in the process). After a fielding error allowed Jesus Gonzalez to get on base, D.J. Jones pinch ran for him and the other D.J., Davis, walked to put runners on first and second. Angel Rojas singled to load the bases and Franklin Barreto, in only his third game in Bluefield, hit a line-drive single to left field that scored Jones and Davis. Barreto had two hits including a double while Matt Dean had two hits and two RBI of his own. Dean has been surging lately and now leads the team with a .324 batting average to go with four home runs. Jesus Gonzalez finally did what many people around the Bluefield club have been waiting for: he hit a home run.

Hitting:

D.J. Davis – 1/4, R, 2B, BB, CS
Tim Locastro – 1/2, R, BB
John Silviano – 0/1
Angel Rojas – 1/1
Franklin Barreto – 2/5, 2B, 2 RBI, K, CS
Mitch Nay – 1/4, R, 2B, 2 K
Matt Dean – 2/4, R, 2 RBI, K
Derrick Loveless – 1/4, 2 K
Jorge Saez – 0/3, BB
Alexis Maldonado – 1/3, BB, K
Jesus Gonzalez – 1/4, R, HR, BB, K
D.J. Jones – 0/0, R

Pitching:

Chase DeJong – 4 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 6 K
Mark Biggs – 2 IP, 3 BB, 2 K
Tim Mayza – 1 2/3 IP, 1 H, 1 BB
Brett Barber – W, 1 1/3 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 2 HR

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Franklin Barreto

Gulf Coast League Blue Jays (28-28)

The GCL Blue Jays took a game from the GCL Braves by scoring four runs in the bottom of the ninth. Rolando Segovia had one of his best games of the year, going two for five, scoring two runs and hitting the walk-off, three-run home run to end the game. Thomas “Boomer” Collins III also had a pair of hits to go with a pair of walks while Rowdy Tellez had two hits. Miguel Castro made his second US appearance since coming over from the Dominican Summer League but his second outing wasn’t as great as his first. He went four innings but gave up three runs on six hits and a walk with three strikeouts. 2013 draftees Evan Smith (fourth round) and Jake Brentz (eleventh round) each gave up a run in their inning of work while Dominican Summer League veterans Francisco Diaz and Jimmy Cordero combined for three scoreless innings to finish the game and keep the Blue Jays in the game for the walk-off heroics.

Hitting:

Thomas Collins III – 2/2, 2 BB
Rolando Segovia – 2/5, 2 R, HR, 3 RBI
Gabriel Cenas – 0/4, RBI
Rowdy Tellez – 2/4, K
Edwin Fuentes – 0/4
Michael De La Cruz – 0/3, R, BB, K
Andres De Aza – 0/2, BB
Daniel Devonshire – 0/0, R, BB
Josh Almonte – 1/4, 3 K
Andrew Florides – 1/3, K
Nathan DeSouza – 0/0, RBI, SF

Pitching:

Miguel Castro – 4 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 3 K
Evan Smith – 1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 2 K
Jacob Brentz – 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 2 K
Francisco Diaz – 2 IP, 1 H
Jimmy Cordero – W, 1 IP, 1 K

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Rolando Segovia

If you like what you’ve seen by Jay Blue, read his work and listen to his podcast on Blue Jays from Away and follow him on Twitter: @Jaysfromaway.